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Activism

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Birth of Inez Bensusan, Australian playwright, actress, and suffragist

September 11, 1871

Inez Bensusan, an Australian and English playwright, actress, and suffragist, was born on September 11, 1871. She wrote and acted in many feminist plays and was active in multiple activist groups, often combining theater and feminism for a political cause.

Birth of Denise Eger, first openly gay president of the CCAR

March 14, 1960

Denise Eger, the first openly gay president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and known for her trailblazing activism, was born on March 14, 1960. Eger’s rabbinical career spanned several decades and she notably served California’s queer Jewish community at the height of the AIDS crisis. 

Collage with photo of Charlotte Charlaque surrounded by black and white designs.

A Young Liberal Feminist’s Post-election Message to Her Peers

Jess Shapiro

Charlaque lived through perhaps one of the most horrific periods in world history as a Jew AND as a transgender woman, AND she survived.

Dr. Estée Klar and her son Adam Wolfond

Q & A with Artist and Disability Advocate Dr. Estée Klar

Sarah Groustra

JWA chats with Dr. Estée Klar about collaborating with her son Adam Wolfond, a non-speaking autistic poet and artist, on a new video installation exhibit.

Megaphones on either side with an artistic interpretation of the flag of Turkey in the middle

Addressing Violence Against Women in Turkey

Lea Davis

Attending my friend’s club truly opened my eyes to the horrific reality that is day-to-day life for many Turkish women.

Topics: Women's Rights

Arlene Agus

Arlene was known for her intense and fervid connection to Jewish liturgy, her dazzling smile, her love of words, music and laughter, and her steadfast commitment to feminism.

Collage with images of Bella Abzug and a rainbow background.

How Bella Abzug Inspires Me to Never Give Up

Dany Dorsey

One of the themes in Bella’s story is a refusal to stay down when pushed into a corner.

Topics: Women's Rights
Collage of hand holding a megaphone with stars in the background

Let’s Get Angry Together — And Make Change

Charli Duchalski

Anger can be a very powerful tool for Jewish women.

Aurora Levins Morales and Book Cover

Q & A with Poet Aurora Levins Morales

Deborah Leipziger

JWA talks to poet Aurora Levins Morales about her new book of poetry, Rimonim: Ritual Poetry of Jewish Liberation, and considers the power of protest, prophecy, and music in these times that call us to action.

Topics: Poetry, Protests
2024 Highlights Photo Montage

Jewish Women Who Shaped 2024

JWA Staff

As 2024 draws to a close, the JWA team takes a moment to celebrate some of the incredible moments and achievements of Jewish women and gender-expansive people from the past year. Here are our picks for the standouts that inspired us, made us laugh, and reminded us of the power of resilience, community, and creativity.

Repeated images of the Statue of Liberty on the top row. Repeated images of Emma Lazarus on the bottom row.

Lifting Our Lamp to Welcome the Stranger

Yona Pianko

Learning about Emma Lazarus' important work aiding Eastern European refugees fleeing from discrimination, violence, and pogroms inspired me to think more deeply about immigration: both its connection to my own life and to today’s world.

Topics: Activism
Collage of a kippah and a rainbow

How My Kippah Affirms My Trans Identity

Murphy Slater

I feel most sure of my gender identity and presentation when it melds with my Jewish cultural identity.

Claude Cahun

Surrealist photographer Claude Cahun lived their life in a spirit of rebellion and defiance. From their precocious teenage years, defying conventional ideals of beauty and femininity with their shaven head and male attire, to their direct resistance of German occupying forces, they active worked against the suppression of liberty and freedom—a life of resistance. 

Joy Ladin cropped

Q & A with Poet Joy Ladin

Deborah Leipziger

JWA chats with poet and activist Joy Ladin about her two new books, gender transformations, and resisting tyranny.

Collage of a compass and a heart

My Jewish Feminist Journey in Israel and the US

Ruth Pollin-Galay

I was dubbed “femenistit masricha,” a smelly feminist, on the first day of seventh grade. I kind of liked it. 

Collage of two hands reaching out with stars in between

Encountering Feminism and Sexism at Jewish Summer Camp

Zoe Moore

Feminism does not require that all women are the same and should react in the same manner to misogyny.

Episode 120: Until 120!

It’s a Can We Talk? party! Welcome to our 120th episode 🥳. We're celebrating this milestone podcast style—Jen gets Judith and Nahanni reminiscing about the early days, we revisit clips from some of our favorite episodes, and we hear "Until 120!" in six languages. We’re honored to be feted by some very special pasts guests and fans of Can We Talk?, including Susan Stamberg of NPR, comedians Judy Gold and Iris Bahr, actor Eleanor Reissa, singers Galeet Dardashti and Erez Zobary, Noah Efron of The Promised Podcast, and our own daughters.

Marilyn Safir

Marilyn Safir is an Israeli-American psychologist who played a critical role as a feminist activist in sparking the Israeli women’s movement and in establishing the academic field of women’s studies in Israel. Her academic career has focused on sex, sexuality, and gender. 

Collage of maps with a Star of David

Balancing Identities: If Hanukkah Harry and Elf on the Shelf Were From China

Sophia Kurtzig

Being Jewish, Chinese, and American has fed my aspiration to ensure that more non-traditional Jewish people feel comfortable with their identities.

Collage of protest with a sunflower and a megaphone

How Judaism Fuels My Commitment to Reproductive Rights

Amia Kaplun

As we progress and amend our traditions, we can take wisdom from past rulings to benefit the Feminist cause.

"Moonstone Covenant" Book Cover

A Jewish Narnia Comes Alive in "The Moonstone Covenant"

Mildred Faintly

Jill Hammer's fantasy debut is an enchanting blend of female friendship, Jewish mysticism, and epic adventure. 

Collage of a pocket watch with stars

Carrying Family Around My Neck

Bee Foster

In my family, necklaces are more meaningful than any other piece of jewelry.

Topics: Family, Feminism
Collage of Clara Lemlich with buildings and pages of books in the background

Exploring Intersectionality in Literature

Liza Feinstein

I find myself thanking all the authors I have read, my family, my friends, and every other Brave Girl out there writing advocating, and proudly showing their Jewish feminist identity.

Topics: Fiction, Feminism

Charlotte Charlaque

Charlotte Charlaque was a transgender trailblazer, actress, and translator in Weimer Berlin and post-Shoah New York City. 

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